Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Justin Hare was shot and killed at about 5:30 am while conducting a welfare check on a disabled vehicle that was stopped near mile marker 320 on I-40, west of Tucumcari.
As Patrolman Hare stopped behind the vehicle, the driver exited and walked to the cruiser's passenger window. The two had a short discussion, and as Patrolman Hare offered to drive the man into town, the subject suddenly produced a handgun and shot him. He shot him a second time before pushing him into the passenger seat. He then abducted him and stole the patrol car, abandoning it approximately 16 miles away and fleeing on foot.
Patrolman Hare was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds two hours later.
Unbeknownst to Patrolman Hare, the man was the suspect in the murder of an off-duty paramedic in South Carolina several days earlier and had been released a few months prior from prison on community supervision. The car he was driving belonged to the murder victim. The subject was arrested two days later after exchanging gunfire with a Bernalillo County sheriff's deputy. In 2025, he pleaded guilty to Carjacking Resulting in Death, Kidnapping Resulting in Death, and three felony firearm charges and was sentenced to life in prison.
Patrolman Hare had served with the New Mexico State Police for six years. He is survived by his expectant fiancée, two children, mother, father, and brother. His third daughter was born a few months after his death.
Survivors
He is survived by his expectant fiancée, two children, mother, father, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-ECA5AF0E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hare gave the New Mexico State Police 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Mexico. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hare.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Justin Hare is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At New Mexico State Police, 10 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 34.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Justin Hare's cause is highlighted.
How Justin Hare Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Justin Hare is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Justin Hare was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from New Mexico State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
